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Baptisia 'Lemon Meringue' PP24280 CPBR5097

DECADENCE® Series

Common Name: False Indigo

You’ll be impressed with the excellent vigor of this yellow flowered selection. It forms an upright, vase-shaped mound of attractive blue-green foliage topped with long, charcoal stems which carry the lemon yellow flowers in late spring to early summer. The contrast of dark stems with light flowers really pops in the landscape, delivering an excellent floral display. Ornamental seed pods extend the season of interest into fall.

Baptisia is easy to grow and will thrive with little maintenance. There are many potential applications in the landscape including meadow plantings, as a backdrop in borders, or as a specimen. Plants are very long-lived once established.

The roots of the DECADENCE® series run deep—14 years deep to be exact. What started as a fun botanizing trip in the lower Midwest with a fellow botanist blossomed into a complex hybridizing project for breeder Hans Hansen.

For over a decade, Hansen made countless crosses with many native Baptisia species he had collected across Texas and Oklahoma. These crosses resulted in an array of seedlings with unique flower colors and plant habits.

Only the very best have made it into the new DECADENCE® Series, which includes varieties selected for their desirable flower colors and shorter, more compact habit.

Baptisia grows best in full sun, though it tolerates light shade. If grown in too much shade, plants may require staking. Baptisia is easily grown in poor to average soil that is well-drained. Once established, it is moderately drought tolerant because of its tough, deep taproot. This perennial native may take a couple of seasons to become established, but is very long-lived once mature. Avoid disturbing established clumps.

Generously graded bare root plants should bloom the first year.Plugs can be planted in late spring to early summer and sold the following spring. This option yields the greatest number of stems per pot.
Forcing plants under cool temperatures will help control height and will intensify flower color but may increase crop time.Baptisia will flower in 8-10 weeks at 50-60° F.

Moisture:

Water well after planting and increase watering as the foliage emerges. Dry to moderate moisture levels.

Planting Level:

Place crown just below soil surface. All eyes should be slightly covered.

PGRs/Pinching:

Drench with uniconazole at 1 ppm once plants reach 6 inches in height.Toning sprays at 5 ppm can be applied later if more control is needed. Best height control is growing Baptisia under cooler temperatures.

Lighting:

Provide high light levels. Grow under clear poly or outdoors.

Grower Tips:

Do not pinch vernalized Baptisia before they flower.Pay attention to the planting depths of bare root and plugs.It is recommended to plant bare root in 2 gallon containers as these have the depth needed to support the plant.If a 1 gallon container is desired, roots can be trimmed to fit the container.1 gallon containers will have a short shelf life due to the massive root system that develops.

Awards

ISU Evaluation of New Perennials -- 2012

Colorado State University "Top Performer" Perennial -- 2012

Fun Facts

The genus name Baptisia comes from the Greek word bapto, meaning to dip, referring to its use as a substitute dye for indigo. The common name for Baptisia, False Indigo, also refers to this practice.

From the Fabaceae Family, or the Bean or Pea Family.

Tantalizing Trivia: Baptisia australis was the first ever subsidized agricultural crop in America.

Baptisia grows best in full sun, though it tolerates light shade. If grown in too much shade, plants may require staking. Baptisia is easily grown in poor to average soil that is well-drained. Once established, it is moderately drought tolerant because of its tough, deep taproot. This perennial native may take a couple of seasons to become established, but is very long-lived once mature. Avoid disturbing established clumps.

Generously graded bare root plants should bloom the first year.Plugs can be planted in late spring to early summer and sold the following spring. This option yields the greatest number of stems per pot.
Forcing plants under cool temperatures will help control height and will intensify flower color but may increase crop time.Baptisia will flower in 8-10 weeks at 50-60° F.

Moisture:

Water well after planting and increase watering as the foliage emerges. Dry to moderate moisture levels.

Planting Level:

Place crown just below soil surface. All eyes should be slightly covered.

PGRs/Pinching:

Drench with uniconazole at 1 ppm once plants reach 6 inches in height.Toning sprays at 5 ppm can be applied later if more control is needed. Best height control is growing Baptisia under cooler temperatures.

Lighting:

Provide high light levels. Grow under clear poly or outdoors.

Grower Tips:

Do not pinch vernalized Baptisia before they flower.Pay attention to the planting depths of bare root and plugs.It is recommended to plant bare root in 2 gallon containers as these have the depth needed to support the plant.If a 1 gallon container is desired, roots can be trimmed to fit the container.1 gallon containers will have a short shelf life due to the massive root system that develops.